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ISO download from Microsoft directly. Use Rufus to make an installer USB. Click the "I do not have a license key" option. Who cares about the watermark.
You can permanently activate it with the scripts from massgravel: https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts
Didn't microsoft recently push something to prevent these from working?
They recently broke hwid, but was recently fixed as of 2.2. The other method worked fine still
Personally, I'd never use one of these scripts.
Most PCs have a windows key burned in to the BIOS.
https://www.howtogeek.com/660517/how-to-find-your-windows-10-product-key-using-the-command-prompt/
I'd start there and see if it can be used for 11 or upgraded through the versions. Then I'd take a "clean" backup and use that to re-install in the future, instead of a new ISO.
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If the laptop came preinstalled with Windows you can likely reinstall the same version (Home or Pro) by using the utility from Microsoft to build a bootable USB drive, and it will auto-activate.
No need to pirate anything, you already have a license.
Install official version from Microsoft website.
Open PowerShell;
irm https://massgrave.dev/get | iex
This authenticates Win and/or upgrades version Home/Pro
Thanks! Will bookmark this :)
Do not pirate windows, just download straight from Microsoft. You don’t need to register
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Safest image download would be from Microsoft website. You need activation? Look up Microsoft Activation Script (MAS) on Github. Read the readme on how to use it.
Just reinstall it via Microsoft official iso maker. Anything newer than Windows 8 will attach license keys to the hardware (motherboard) and it usually picks the activation right back up.
If not use the msguides.com kms method.
This is the way. Win is already activated, no need to pirate anything. Just get a >= 8gb flash drive, download the installer creator app from Microsoft, and reinstall Windows. It will activate based on the licensing level the machine came with, minus the crapware, which is from the manufacturer's OS image, not Microsoft's.
This OP, also make sure to choose custom install and delete ALL the partitions. Not only does the manufacturer image reside there with it's crapware, it could have been tampered with to reinstall all that malware lol
Considering it's a laptop with a working Windows, it probably already has a licence for the hardware. Just download from Microsoft, wipe disk and install it and see if it works.
I download it from Debian.org
Windows Debian edition is in reality the most stable and privacy focused Windows yet.
NGL I'm so tired right now I thought you were serious about there being a "Windows Debian Edition"
I even googled it lol
I do agree though that if your mum only uses the PC for like day to day browsing she'll never notice a difference if you put a Windows style skin on your preferred Linux distro. Hell she might notice it being faster all around to be honest.
Aren't Windows keys bound to motherboards these days? Unless you replace the motherboard, just download it again and start fresh.
No need to download anything, no iso creation, no thumb drives.
Just reset the current installation and select the option to wipe everything and start over. Google it or just poke through the settings menu.
Except if the malware has already infected the recovery partition or completely removed it. Personally I'd take no chances and just nuke the HDD and perform a fresh install.
Find out what version of windows that laptop ships with, and install that. Windows licenses have been tied to mobos for a while, there's a good chance it'll just activate. If you need an installer, you can download ISOs and tools to make a bootable USB from Microsoft's site.
If it already has windows on it, then it has a key. Just install windows. You can get it from their website
https://winaero.com/download-windows-10-enterprise-iso-with-media-creation-tool/
same works for windows 11
activation: https://github.com/massgravel/Microsoft-Activation-Scripts/releases
Like others have said, just use official windows and don't activate, only downside is the watermark afaik.
Alternatively, you can buy licences for like 1-2 $ off eBay and other similar sites. Just make sure the licence and the version you install matches otherwise it won't activate
Why, the laptop came with Windows so it has a license. Why not use it?
It it already had a license even better, yeah, no need to buy a new one. Figured that wasn't the case since they asked how to pirate it.
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mass grave dev might be able to help you
Scratch/Reuse of a Win7 key at work and have a genuine copy.
No money went to microsoft either way and you don't need external tools.
Use the official Microsoft tool that makes installation media. From there, you can leave it unactivated, purchase a key, or use MAS or whatever it's called to activate for free
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this post was submitted on 15 Oct 2023
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